Proteas all out for 225

Perth, Australia – South Africa were dismissed for 225 in their first innings after winning the toss on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Waca Ground on Friday.

In a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket, the Proteas were in deep trouble at 75/6, before the tail wagged to help add respectability to their score.

It was second Adelaide Test hero Faf du Plessis who again led the fightback, making an unbeaten 78, for a total of 266 runs in his first two Tests with just one dismissal.

He received support from Robin Peterson (31) and Vernon Philander (30) after Australia's revamped pace attack rocked the Proteas' top order.

Spinner Nathan Lyon took three for 41 off 12 overs, but it was the Australian fast bowling quartet of Mitchell Johnson (2/54), Mitchell Starc (2/55), Shane Watson (1/22) and John Hastings (1/51) that did the damage.

None of the pace foursome played in the drawn second Test in Adelaide. – Sapa-AFP